Greece searching for tenth win against Hungarians
In September, Greece contrived to lose 1:2 against the Hungarians in disappointing fashion in the UEFA Nations League, but the players should motivated to get back to winning ways on Friday. AGONAsport looks at the countries’ previous meetings.
Going all the way back to the first meeting in December 1931 (2:4), Greece have played Hungary 21 times, picking up nine victories, six draws and six defeats. The heaviest loss was an incredible 1:11 setback in 1938, but after that humiliating result, the Ethniki Omada have generally played well against these opponents and with head coach Michael Skibbe’s job on the line in Athens, the team should be fired up to claim a second victory in the newly created UEFA Nations League and recover from the 1:2 defeat in Budapest. Let’s take a look at the Greeks’ most recent five matches against Hungary:
September 11, 2018. Hungary - Greece - 2:1, UEFA Nations League
Having defeated Estonia 1:0 in Tallinn, the Greeks travelled to Budapest in confident mood to play the Hungarians, however it proved to be a thoroughly underwhelming night for Michael Skibbe’s men. After APOEL forward Roland Sallai fired in a neat opener, defender Kostas Manolas soon brought the Ethniki level, heading home Konstantinos Fortounis’ pinpoint free-kick. Fortounis and Dimitris Pelkas then went close with testing efforts, but on the stroke of half time, Laszlo Kleinheisler completed a flowing move for Hungary to register a superb winning goal. In the latter stages, Greece pressed and Konstantinos Mitroglou headed inches wide, however there was to be no dramatic comeback. It’s a result which made the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) question Skibbe and his job is in a somewhat precarious position.
October 11, 2015. Greece - Hungary - 4:3, UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
Greece managed to complete a shockingly awful qualifying campaign for UEFA Euro 2016 with a morale boosting 4:3 triumph over the Hungarians. Bottom of Group F after humiliating defeats to the Faroe Islands, Finland, Northern Ireland and Romania, the Ethniki only had pride to play for in the final game, beating Hungary in a pulsating encounter at the Karaiskakis Stadium. On five minutes, left-back Konstantinos Stafylidis broke the deadlock, nudging a teasing cross into the net. Hungary did strike back with three goals through Gergo Lovrencsics and Krisztian Nemeth (2), however Panagiotis Tachtsidis and Mitroglou equalised before Panagiotis Kone headed in a last gasp winner to claim Greece’s only victory in the group.
March 29, 2015. Hungary - Greece - 0:0, UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
In the previous qualifying match for the Greeks, a horrible 0:1 defeat was conceded against the Faroe Islands in Piraeus, meaning the players made the trip to Budapest with the aim of somehow regaining the trust of the Hellenic public. Battling to keep in touch with the leading pack, Hungary held the initiative in the first half, but the visitors became more dangerous in the second set of 45 minutes and tested opposing goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly. In truth, there was little to choose between the two sides and the game eventually petered out to a 0:0 draw in the Hungarian capital.
May 24, 2008. Hungary - Greece, 3:2, friendly match
Warming up for the defence of the European title at UEFA Euro 2008, the Ethniki Omada took on Hungary in a friendly match in Budapest, losing 2:3. In stoppage time at the end of the first half, a defensive error allowed Ioannis Amanatidis to bundle the ball past the stricken goalkeeper, but Hungary tallied three second half goals with Balazs Dzsudzsak, Ronald Juhasz and Krisztian Vadocz all scoring. Forward Nikos Liberopoulos grabbed a consolation with a clever header however Hungary weren’t to be denied a victory.
November 27, 2007. Hungary - Greece - 1:2, UEFA Euro 2007 qualifying
Before a ball was kicked in Budapest, reigning European champions Greece had already assured themselves of a berth at the final tournament, but the team still showed character to defeat a plucky Hungarian side 2:1 in a closely contested match. Initially, Hungary took the lead when Akos Buzasky’s deflected shot drifted in, something which forced the Greeks to wake up. Home defender Vilmos Vanczak made it 1:1 with a sloppy own goal and Angelos Basinas then fired in a vital penalty on 51 minutes after Theofanis Gekas had been taken down inside the area. Greece finished Group C in first place, while with 12 points to their name, Hungary claimed a mere sixth position.
All Greek national team matches against Hungary:
13/12/1931, Greece - Hungary - 2:4 (friendly match)
25/03/1938, Hungary - Greece - 11:1 (World Cup qualifying)
09/10/1976, Greece - Hungary - 1:1 (World Cup qualifying)
28/05/1977, Hungary - Greece - 3:0 (World Cup qualifying)
28/10/1978, Greece - Hungary - 4:1 (European championship qualifying)
02/05/1979, Hungary - Greece - 0:0 (European championship qualifying)
15/05/1983, Hungary - Greece - 2:3 (European championship qualifying)
03/12/1983, Greece - Hungary - 2:2 (European championship qualifying)
12/11/1986, Greece - Hungary - 2:1 (European championship qualifying)
14/10/1987, Hungary - Greece - 3:0 (European championship qualifying)
15/11/1988, Greece - Hungary - 3:0 (friendly match)
25/10/1989, Hungary - Greece - 1:1 (friendly match)
11/11/1992, Greece - Hungary - 0:0 (World Cup qualifying)
31/03/1993, Hungary - Greece - 0:1 (World Cup qualifying)
16/11/2005, Greece - Hungary - 2:1 (friendly match)
02/06/2007, Greece - Hungary - 2:0 (European championship qualifying)
21/11/2007, Hungary - Greece - 1:2 (European championship qualifying)
24/05/2008, Hungary - Greece - 3:2 (friendly match)
29/03/2015, Hungary - Greece - 0:0 (European championship qualifying)
11/10/2015, Greece - Hungary - 4:3 (European championship qualifying)
11/09/2018, Hungary - Greece - 2:1 (UEFA Nations League)
by Shaun Nicolaides
Image Source: gazzetta.gr
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